fakefan

F4A1K5E1F4A1N1
/ˈfeɪkfæn/

noun

Someone who socializes with fans but has little or no interest in the subject of the fandom.

Scrabble 17

Meanings

nounfakefan (plural fakefans or fakefen)

plural fakefans · plural fakefen · alternative fake fan · alternative fake-fan

  1. datedderogatoryslangsometimeslifestyleSomeone who socializes with fans but has little or no interest in the subject of the fandom.

    I am NOT a fakefan.

    1953 May-June, Robert Bloch, “Sez Y'All”, in Quandry, number 29, page 14
    2 more examples

    I consider myself basically a fakefan, in the classical sense of somebody who hangs around fanzine fandom but never actually *does* anything like pub an ish or write a LoC. Seems to me that somebody who wanted to come to Corflu but who had no zine name to put on the badge would fit the "fakefan" definition.

    1998 July 29, Rich McAllister, “Fanzine names on badges at conventions (was Re: Weapons at Worldcon)”, in rec.arts.sf.fandom (Usenet), message-ID <uyfaf5s47gl.fsf_-_@eng.sun.com>

    I suspect some of the people jumping can't be brought to understand that you really _mean it_ when you say that this is your idea of an enjoyable con. Since they think you are intelligent and fannish types, you must Like What They Like, and probably indulge in gaming, anime and video just to lure fakefen to the con.

    2002 November 1, Johan Anglemark, “Re: Non-cons (was Re: Play Nice, Now Re: Troll ...)”, in rec.arts.sf.fandom (Usenet), message-ID <Xns91939888D6533johananglemarkppse@195.58.103.121>

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

fakefan. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fakefan

MLA

“fakefan.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fakefan. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fakefan,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fakefan.

Source: fakefan on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.